Short end cap storage package

Claim 2

A storage package for an article comprising: (A) a plurality of panels including a pair of end panels, said plurality of panels being movable between an open orientation enabling access to any contents of the package and a collapsed orientation for storage purposes; (B) a holder formed of plastic disposed on one of said end panels for receiving an article therein, said holder having one end thereof remote from the other of said end panels when said plurality of panel is in said open orientation, said holder having a pair of opposed lateral sidewalls and on said one end an upwardly projecting end wall defining a central recess; and (C) an end cap formed of plastic and having a pair of ends, one end of said end cap being directly pivotally secured to said one end of said holder and the other end of said end cap being a free end pivotable to overlap a topmost of said plurality of panels and maintain said plurality of panels in said collapsed orientation, said end cap having a portion thereof adapted to releasably engage said holder end wall when said plurality of panels is in said collapsed orientation and said end cap occupies said holder end wall recess such that said other end of said end cap overlaps a topmost of said plurality of panels and maintains said plurality of panels in said collapsed orientation, thereby to preclude accidental movement of said plurality of panels out of said collapsed orientation, said end cap being permanently secured to said holder only at said one end of said end cap and being devoid of any living hinge intermediate said ends thereof.

Claim 3

The package of claim 1 wherein said end cap is directly pivotally secured to said holder by a living hinge.

Claim 4

The package of claim 2 wherein said living hinge extends substantially less than the entire width of said holder end wall.

Claim 5

The package of claim 2 wherein said end cap and said holder are of a unitary, integral, one-piece construction formed in a single molding operation.

Claim 6

The package of claim 2 wherein said end cap plastic is polypropylene.

Claim 7

The package of claim 1 wherein said end cap plastic is different than said holder plastic.

Claim 8

The package of claim 1 wherein said plurality of panels is formed of paperboard.

Claim 9

The package of claim 1 wherein said plurality of panels in said open orientation has no panel overlying said panel on which said holder is disposed, thereby enabling access to said holder and any article thereon, and in said collapsed orientation has each of said panels overlapping one another, thereby to provide a compact package for storage.

Claim 10

The package of claim 1 wherein said end cap is generally L-shaped and has a pair of opposed lateral sidewalls defining end cap engaging means and a connecting portion connecting the same, and said holder has a generally planar end wall and a pair of facing holder end wall edges defining holder engaging means adapted to engage cooperatively with said end cap engaging means.

Claim 11

The package of claim 9 wherein said end cap connecting portion is appreciably spaced from said end cap ends and adapted to releasably engage said holder end wall at a portion thereof spaced from said one end of said holder.

Claim 12

A storage package for an article comprising: (A) a plurality of paperboard panels including a pair of end panels, said plurality of panels being movable between an open orientation enabling access to any contents of the package and a collapsed orientation for storage purposes; (B) a holder formed of plastic and disposed on one of said end panels for receiving an article therein, said holder having one end thereof remote from the other of said end panels when said plurality of panels is in said open orientation, said holder having a generally planar and generally rectangular holder body and a pair of opposed lateral holder sidewalls and on said one end of said holder an upwardly projecting end wall defining a central recess and engaging means thereabout; and (C) an end cap formed of plastic and having a pair of ends, one end of said end cap being directly pivotally secured to said one end of said holder, and the other end of said end cap being a free end, said end cap being generally L-shaped and having a pair of upstanding opposed lateral sidewalls and a connecting portion connecting the same, said end cap sidewalls defining engaging means adapted to engage cooperatively with said holder engaging means when said plurality of panels is in said collapsed orientation and said end cap occupies said holder end wall recess such that said other end of said end cap maintains said plurality of panels in said collapsed orientation, thereby to preclude accidental movement of said plurality of panels out of said collapsed orientation, said end cap being permanently secured to said holder only at said one end of said end cap and being devoid of any living hinge intermediate said ends thereof; said plurality of panels in said open orientation having no panel overlying said panel on which said holder is disposed, thereby enabling access to said holder and any article thereon, and in said collapsed orientation having each of said panels overlapping one another, thereby to provide a compact package for storage.

Claim 13

A storage package for an article comprising: (A) a plurality of paperboard panels including a pair of end panels, said plurality of panels being movable between an open orientation enabling access to any contents of the package and a collapsed orientation for storage purposes; (B) a holder formed of plastic and disposed on one of said end panels for receiving an article therein, said holder having one end thereof remote from the other of said end panels when said plurality of panels is in said open orientation, said holder having a generally planar and generally rectangular holder body and a pair of opposed lateral holder sidewalls and on said one end of said holder an upwardly projecting end wall defining a central recess and engaging means thereabout; and (C) an end cap formed of plastic and having a pair of ends, one end of said end cap being directly pivotally secured to said one end of said holder, and the other end of said end cap being a free end, said end cap being generally L-shaped and having a pair of upstanding opposed lateral sidewalls and a connecting portion connecting the same, said end cap sidewalls defining engaging means adapted to engage cooperatively with said holder engaging means when said plurality of panels is in said collapsed orientation and said end cap occupies said holder end wall recess such that said other end of said end cap maintains said plurality of panels in said collapsed orientation, thereby to preclude accidental movement of said plurality of panels out of said collapsed orientation, said end cap being permanently secured to said holder only at said one end of said end cap and being devoid of any living hinge intermediate said ends thereof; said plurality of panels in said open orientation having no panel overlying said panel on which said holder is disposed, thereby enabling access to said holder and any article thereon, and in said collapsed orientation having each of said panels overlapping one another, thereby to provide a compact package for storage.

Claim 14

A storage package intermediate for use with a plurality of panels including a pair of end panels, the plurality of panels being movable between an open orientation enabling access to any contents of the package and a collapsed orientation for storage purposes, said intermediate comprising: (A) a holder formed of plastic configured and dimensioned to be disposed on one of the end panels for receiving an article therein, said holder having one end thereof remote from the other of the end panels when the plurality of panels is in said open orientation, said holder having a pair of opposed lateral sidewalls and on said one end an upwardly projecting end wall defining a central recess; and (B) an end cap formed of plastic and having a pair of ends, one end of said end cap being configured and dimensioned to be directly pivotally secured to said one end of said holder and the other end of said end cap being a free end, said end cap having a portion thereof spaced from both said ends thereof adapted to releasably engage said holder end wall at a portion thereof spaced from said one end of said holder when the plurality of panels is in said collapsed orientation and said end cap occupies said holder end wall recess such that said other end of said end cap maintains the plurality of panels in said collapsed orientation, thereby to preclude accidental movement of the plurality of panels out of said collapsed orientation, said end cap being permanently secured to said holder only at said one end of said end cap and being devoid of any living hinge intermediate said ends thereof.

Claim 15

A storage package intermediate for use with a plurality of panels including a pair of end panels, the plurality of panels being movable between an open orientation enabling access to any contents of the package and a collapsed orientation for storage purposes, said intermediate comprising: (A) a holder formed of plastic configured and dimensioned to be disposed on one of the end panels for receiving an article therein, said holder having one end thereof remote from the other of the end panels when the plurality of panels is in said open orientation, said holder having a pair of opposed lateral sidewalls and on said one end an upwardly projecting end wall defining a central recess; and (B) an end cap formed of plastic and having a pair of ends, one end of said end cap being configured and dimensioned to be directly pivotally secured to said one end of said holder and the other end of said end cap being a free end, said end cap having a portion thereof spaced from both said ends thereof adapted to releasably engage said holder end wall at a portion thereof spaced from said one end of said holder when the plurality of panels is in said collapsed orientation and said end cap occupies said holder end wall recess such that said other end of said end cap maintains the plurality of panels in said collapsed orientation, thereby to preclude accidental movement of the plurality of panels out of said collapsed orientation, said end cap being permanently secured to said holder only at said one end of said end cap and being devoid of any living hinge intermediate said ends thereof.

Claim 16

The intermediate of claim 12 wherein said end cap is directly pivotally secured to said holder by a living hinge.

Claim 17

The intermediate of claim 13 wherein said living hinge extends substantially less than the entire width of said holder end wall.

Claim 18

The intermediate of claim 13 wherein said end cap and said holder are of a unitary, integral, one-piece construction formed in a single molding operation.

Claim 19

The intermediate of claim 13 wherein said end cap plastic is polypropylene.

Claim 20

The intermediate of claim 12 wherein said end cap plastic is different than said holder plastic.

Claim 21

The intermediate of claim 12 wherein said end cap is generally L-shaped and has a pair of lateral sidewalls defining end cap engaging means and a connecting portion connecting the same, and said holder has a generally planar end wall and a pair of facing holder end wall edges defining holder engaging means adapted to engage cooperatively with said end cap engaging means.

Claim 22

The intermediate of claim 18 wherein said end cap connecting portion is appreciably spaced from said end cap ends and adapted to releasably engage said holder end wall.

Claim 23

A storage package intermediate, comprising: (A) a holder formed of plastic for receiving an article therein, said holder having a generally planar and generally rectangular holder body and a pair of opposed lateral holder sidewalls and on one end an upwardly projecting end wall defining a central recess and engaging means thereabout; and (B) an end cap of generally L-shaped cross-section, formed of plastic and having a pair of ends, a pair of upstanding opposed lateral sidewalls, and a connecting portion connecting the same, one end of said end cap being directly pivotally secured to said one end of said holder and the other end of said end cap being a free end, said end cap sidewalls defining engaging means adapted to engage cooperatively with said holder engaging means when said end cap occupies said holder end wall recess, said end cap being permanently secured to said holder only at said one end of said end cap and being devoid of any living hinge or intermediate said ends thereof.

Claim 24

A storage package intermediate, comprising: (A) a holder formed of plastic for receiving an article therein, said holder having a generally planar and generally rectangular holder body and a pair of opposed lateral holder sidewalls and on one end an upwardly projecting end wall defining a central recess and engaging means thereabout; and (B) an end cap of generally L-shaped cross-section, formed of plastic and having a pair of ends, a pair of upstanding opposed lateral sidewalls, and a connecting portion connecting the same, one end of said end cap being directly pivotally secured to said one end of said holder and the other end of said end cap being a free end, said end cap sidewalls defining engaging means adapted to engage cooperatively with said holder engaging means when said end cap occupies said holder end wall recess, said end cap being permanently secured to said holder only at said one end of said end cap and being devoid of any living hinge or intermediate said ends thereof.

Claim 25

A glueless storage package for an article comprising: (A) a substantially rigid compartment, formed of plastic and having an open top, a bottom, a front end, a back end and a pair of lateral sides connecting said ends, for receiving an article through said open top, said compartment at least partially defining an open-top transverse slot at said back end, said compartment further defining an open-bottom interior chamber having a passageway thereinto leading from said bottom into said chamber and a horizontally-extending ledge in said chamber, said compartment also defining adjacent said compartment bottom and adjacent each said lateral side thereof a horizontally-extending retainer and an undercut between said retainer and said compartment bottom; and (B) a plurality of interconnected panels including a top end panel, a bottom end panel, an outer spine connecting said end panels, and an inner spine flap secured to said outer spine, said panels being movable between a collapsed orientation, wherein said panels are substantially overlying, and an open orientation, wherein said panels are not substantially overlying, said flap being configured and dimensioned to be at least partially received in said open-top transverse slot, said bottom end panel having adjacent each lateral side thereof a weakened and recessed portion adapted to be forcibly received and releasably maintained in a respective one of said undercuts, and said bottom end panel defining at a free end thereof a resiliently bent end portion, said end portion defining a panel slot and being configured and dimensioned to pass through said passageway into said chamber and to at least partially unbend within said chamber such that said chamber ledge enters said panel slot to releasably resist removal of said end portion from said chamber; said package being devoid of glue securing said compartment and said panels together.

Claim 26

A glueless storage package for an article comprising: (A) a substantially rigid compartment, formed of plastic and having an open top, a bottom, a front end, a back end and a pair of lateral sides connecting said ends, for receiving an article through said open top, said compartment at least partially defining an open-top transverse slot at said back end, said compartment further defining an open-bottom interior chamber having a passageway thereinto leading from said bottom into said chamber and a horizontally-extending ledge in said chamber, said compartment also defining adjacent said compartment bottom and adjacent each said lateral side thereof a horizontally-extending retainer and an undercut between said retainer and said compartment bottom; and (B) a plurality of interconnected panels including a top end panel, a bottom end panel, an outer spine connecting said end panels, and an inner spine flap secured to said outer spine, said panels being movable between a collapsed orientation, wherein said panels are substantially overlying, and an open orientation, wherein said panels are not substantially overlying, said flap being configured and dimensioned to be at least partially received in said open-top transverse slot, said bottom end panel having adjacent each lateral side thereof a weakened and recessed portion adapted to be forcibly received and releasably maintained in a respective one of said undercuts, and said bottom end panel defining at a free end thereof a resiliently bent end portion, said end portion defining a panel slot and being configured and dimensioned to pass through said passageway into said chamber and to at least partially unbend within said chamber such that said chamber ledge enters said panel slot to releasably resist removal of said end portion from said chamber; said package being devoid of glue securing said compartment and said panels together.

Claim 27

The package of claim 21 wherein said chamber and passageway extend substantially the length of an edge of said compartment.

Claim 28

The package of claim 21 wherein said panels and spine are formed of resilient paperboard.

Claim 29

A glueless storage package intermediate comprising: a substantially rigid compartment, formed of plastic and having an open top, a bottom, a front end, a back end and a pair of lateral sides connecting said ends, for receiving an article through said open top and maintaining the article therein, said compartment at least partially defining an open-top transverse slot at said back end; said compartment further defining an open-bottom interior chamber having a passageway thereinto leading from said bottom into said chamber and a horizontally-extending ledge in said chamber; and said compartment also defining adjacent said compartment bottom and adjacent each said lateral side thereof a horizontally-extending retainer and an undercut between said retainer and said compartment bottom.

Claim 30

A glueless storage package intermediate comprising: a substantially rigid compartment, formed of plastic and having an open top, a bottom, a front end, a back end and a pair of lateral sides connecting said ends, for receiving an article through said open top and maintaining the article therein, said compartment at least partially defining an open-top transverse slot at said back end; said compartment further defining an open-bottom interior chamber having a passageway thereinto leading from said bottom into said chamber and a horizontally-extending ledge in said chamber; and said compartment also defining adjacent said compartment bottom and adjacent each said lateral side thereof a horizontally-extending retainer and an undercut between said retainer and said compartment bottom.

Claim 31

A glueless storage package intermediate for use with a substantially rigid compartment formed of plastic and having an open top, a bottom, a front end, a back end and a pair of lateral sides connecting said ends, for receiving an article through said open top, said compartment defining adjacent said compartment bottom and adjacent each said lateral side thereof a horizontally-extending retainer and an undercut between said retainer and compartment bottom, said intermediate comprising a plurality of interconnected panels including a top end panel, a bottom end panel, and a spine connecting said end panels, said panels being movable between a collapsed orientation, wherein said panels are substantially overlying, and an open orientation, wherein said panels are not substantially overlying, said bottom end panel having adjacent each lateral side thereof a weakened and recessed portion adapted to be forcibly received and releasably maintained in a respective one of said undercuts.

Claim 32

A glueless storage package intermediate for use with a substantially rigid compartment formed of plastic and having an open top, a bottom, a front end, a back end and a pair of lateral sides connecting said ends, for receiving an article through said open top, said compartment defining adjacent said compartment bottom and adjacent each said lateral side thereof a horizontally-extending retainer and an undercut between said retainer and compartment bottom, said intermediate comprising a plurality of interconnected panels including a top end panel, a bottom end panel, and a spine connecting said end panels, said panels being movable between a collapsed orientation, wherein said panels are substantially overlying, and an open orientation, wherein said panels are not substantially overlying, said bottom end panel having adjacent each lateral side thereof a weakened and recessed portion adapted to be forcibly received and releasably maintained in a respective one of said undercuts.

Claim 33

The intermediate of claim 25 wherein the compartment at least partially defines an open-top transverse slot adjacent the back end, and said plurality of panels additionally includes a flap secured at one end to said spine, said flap being configured and dimensioned to be at least partially received in the open-top transverse slot of the compartment.

Claim 34

The intermediate of claim 25 wherein the compartment defines an open-bottom interior chamber having a passageway thereinto leading from said bottom into the chamber and a horizontally-extending ledge, and said bottom panel defines at a free end thereof a resiliently bent end portion, said end portion defining a panel slot and being configured and dimensioned to pass through the passageway into the chamber and to at least partially unbend within the chamber such that the chamber ledge enters said panel slot to releasably resist removal of said end portion from the chamber.

Claim 35

A glueless storage package for an article comprising: (A) a substantially rigid compartment, formed of plastic and having an open top, a bottom, a front end, a back end and a pair of lateral sides connecting said ends, for receiving an article through said open top, said compartment at least partially defining an open-top transverse slot at said back end, said compartment further defining an open-bottom interior chamber having a passageway thereinto leading from said bottom into said chamber and a horizontally-extending ledge in said chamber, said compartment also defining adjacent said compartment bottom and adjacent each said lateral side thereof a horizontally-extending retainer and an undercut between said retainer and said compartment bottom, said compartment having on said front end an upwardly projecting front wall defining a central recess; (B) a plurality of interconnected panels including a top end panel, a bottom end panel, an outer spine connecting said end panels, and an inner spine flap secured to said outer spine, said plurality of panels being movable between a collapsed orientation, wherein said panels are substantially overlying for storage purposes, and an open orientation, wherein said panels are not substantially overlying for enabling access to the contents of the package, said flap being configured and dimensioned to be at least partially received in said open-top transverse slot, said bottom end panel having adjacent each lateral side thereof a weakened and recessed portion adapted to be forcibly received and releasably maintained in a respective one of said undercuts, and said bottom end panel defining at a free end thereof a resiliently bent end portion, said end portion defining a panel slot and being configured and dimensioned to pass through said passageway into said chamber and to at least partially unbend within said chamber such that said chamber ledge enters said panel slot to releasably resist removal of said end portion from said chamber; and (C) an end cap formed of plastic and having a pair of ends, one end of said end cap being directly pivotally secured to said compartment front wall and the other end of said end cap being a free end, said end cap having a portion thereof adapted to releasably engage said compartment front wall when said plurality of panels is in said collapsed orientation and said end cap occupies said compartment front wall recess such that said other end of said end cap maintains said plurality of panels in said collapsed orientation, thereby to preclude accidental movement of said plurality of panels out of said collapsed orientation, said end cap being permanently secured to said holder only at said one end of said end cap and being devoid of any living hinge intermediate said ends thereof.

Claim 36

A glueless storage package for an article comprising: (A) a substantially rigid compartment, formed of plastic and having an open top, a bottom, a front end, a back end and a pair of lateral sides connecting said ends, for receiving an article through said open top, said compartment at least partially defining an open-top transverse slot at said back end, said compartment further defining an open-bottom interior chamber having a passageway thereinto leading from said bottom into said chamber and a horizontally-extending ledge in said chamber, said compartment also defining adjacent said compartment bottom and adjacent each said lateral side thereof a horizontally-extending retainer and an undercut between said retainer and said compartment bottom, said compartment having on said front end an upwardly projecting front wall defining a central recess; (B) a plurality of interconnected panels including a top end panel, a bottom end panel, an outer spine connecting said end panels, and an inner spine flap secured to said outer spine, said plurality of panels being movable between a collapsed orientation, wherein said panels are substantially overlying for storage purposes, and an open orientation, wherein said panels are not substantially overlying for enabling access to the contents of the package, said flap being configured and dimensioned to be at least partially received in said open-top transverse slot, said bottom end panel having adjacent each lateral side thereof a weakened and recessed portion adapted to be forcibly received and releasably maintained in a respective one of said undercuts, and said bottom end panel defining at a free end thereof a resiliently bent end portion, said end portion defining a panel slot and being configured and dimensioned to pass through said passageway into said chamber and to at least partially unbend within said chamber such that said chamber ledge enters said panel slot to releasably resist removal of said end portion from said chamber; and (C) an end cap formed of plastic and having a pair of ends, one end of said end cap being directly pivotally secured to said compartment front wall and the other end of said end cap being a free end, said end cap having a portion thereof adapted to releasably engage said compartment front wall when said plurality of panels is in said collapsed orientation and said end cap occupies said compartment front wall recess such that said other end of said end cap maintains said plurality of panels in said collapsed orientation, thereby to preclude accidental movement of said plurality of panels out of said collapsed orientation, said end cap being permanently secured to said holder only at said one end of said end cap and being devoid of any living hinge intermediate said ends thereof.