U.S. patent number 3,734,389 [Application Number 05/134,375] was granted by the patent office on 1973-05-22 for package corner post.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Inland Container Corporation. Invention is credited to Philip H. Brown.
United States Patent |
3,734,389 |
Brown |
May 22, 1973 |
PACKAGE CORNER POST
Abstract
In a container for a bulky and heavy article generally cubic in
shape, a vertical corner post for cushioning and protecting a
vertical edge of the article. The corner post has a cross-section
in the shape of the numeral 4 and is positioned such that a recess
engages an adjacent outer edge of the article and a vertex of the
post extends into an adjacent inner corner of the container. An
hypotenuse panel of the post has a score line along its length
which permits the hypotenuse panel to fold outwardly at the score
line upon application of an extreme or repeated lateral compressive
force to cushion the article against the force.
Inventors: |
Brown; Philip H. (Zionsville,
IN) |
Assignee: |
Inland Container Corporation
(Indianapolis, IN)
|
Family
ID: |
22463091 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/134,375 |
Filed: |
April 15, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/586;
206/320 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
81/054 (20130101); B65D 2581/053 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
81/05 (20060101); B65d 025/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;229/14C,DIG.1
;206/46FR |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Moorhead; Davis T.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An integral, elongated, vertical corner post for cushioning and
protecting a vertical edge of an article, the corner post having an
outer covering formed of corrugated fiberboard having horizontal
corrugations, the outer covering comprising an elongated inner base
panel adapted to lie adjacent a first surface of the article, an
elongated step panel disposed transversely to said inner base panel
and adapted to lie adjacent a second surface of the article, an
edge of the article formed by the intersection of the first and
second surfaces being received by a recess formed by the
intersection of said inner base panel and said step panel, an
elongated outer base panel disposed substantially parallel to said
inner base panel, and elongated panel means interconnecting said
step panel and said outer base panel and forming a vertex at its
intersection with said outer base panel, said vertex being designed
to fit into the corner of an outer container in which the corner
post is employed, wherein the improvement comprises said panel
means having an elongated line of weakness disposed therein and
located such that said panel means will fold outward at said line
of weakness upon the application of lateral compressive force to
thereby cushion the edge of the protected article against the
force.
2. A corner post according to claim 1 further comprising
reinforcement means located interior of said outer base panel and
such panel means and formed of corrugated material having vertical
corrugations, said reinforcement means protecting the article
against vertical compressive force.
3. A corner post according to claim 2 wherein said reinforcement
means comprises a first reinforcing panel secured to the interior
face of said outer base panel and a second reinforcing panel
integral with said first reinforcing panel and positioned adjacent
the interior face of said panel means, said second reinforcing
panel being separable from said panel means when said application
of lateral compressive force causes said panel means to fold
outward at said line of weakness, said second reinforcing panel
preventing the collapse of said folding panel means.
4. A corner post according to claim 3 further comprising a third
reinforcing panel positioned between and secured to the inwardly
directed faces of said inner base panel and said first reinforcing
panel.
5. A corner post according to claim 3 wherein the intersection
between said first and second reinforcing panels is located
immediately interior of said vertex.
6. A corner post according to claim 3 wherein said panel means
includes a vertex panel which is disposed substantially
perpendicular to said outer base panel to which it is hinged.
7. A corner post in accordance with claim 3 wherein said outer base
panel is adhesively attached to said first reinforcement panel over
a major portion of its area but not including the region adjacent
said vertex for a width at least equal to the width of said vertex
panel.
8. A corner post according to claim 6 wherein said panel means
includes a hypotenuse panel which extends from said vertex panel to
said step panel and wherein said line of weakness is disposed not
farther from the midpoint of said panel than about 10 percent of
the width of said hypotenuse panel.
9. A corner post in accordance with claim 7 wherein said
reinforcement means includes a short fourth panel hinged between
said first and second panels lying adjacent the interior surface of
said vertex panel.
10. An integral corner post for cushioning and protecting a
vertical edge of an article within an outer container of generally
rectangular horizontal cross section, which corner post is formed
of a corrugated fiberboard member having horizontal corrugations
and a corrugated member having vertical corrugations, said corner
post being adapted for disposition in surface-to-surface contact
with first and second perpendicular surfaces of the article being
protected and first and second inner sidewalls of the outer
container, said corner post being designed to extend longitudinally
for at least a major portion of the height of the protected
article, said vertically corrugated member being wrapped outside
said other member and having an outer base panel adapted to lie
adjacent the first sidewall of the outer container, said outer base
panel being secured along a major portion of the opposite surface
thereof to an outer base reinforcing panel of said inner member,
said outer member having a vertex panel hinged to said outer base
panel which is adapted to lie adjacent the second sidewall of the
container, having panel means hinged to and extending from said
vertex panel to a hinged step panel that lies adjacent the second
surface of the protected article, and also having an inner base
panel hinged to said step panel and being adapted to lie adjacent
the first surface of the protected article, said inner horizontally
corrugated member having a diagonal panel hinged to said outer base
reinforcing panel thereof and extending generally from the
intersection of said outer base panel and said vertex panel to the
intersection of said panel means and said step panel, said diagonal
panel containing a longitudinal line of weakness in a central
location therein, which line of weakness causes controlled failure
to occur resulting in outward folding of said diagonal panel to
prevent damage to the article being protected while continuing to
support said vertically corrugated member and cushion the vertical
edge of the article.
11. A corner post in accordance with claim 10 wherein said line of
weakness is located not farther from the midpoint of said diagonal
panel than about 10 percent of the width of said diagonal panel.
Description
The present invention relates to a cushioned container and, more
particularly, the invention relates to a corner post which cushions
and protects the corners and edge of a bulky and heavy article.
It is customary to package bulky, heavy articles, such as
refrigerators, television sets, stoves, air conditioners, washing
machines and dryers, within relatively lightweight but strong
crates and containers, made of reinforced fiberboard, corrugated
paperboard or light wooden slats. The article is usually cushioned
within the lightweight container against damage from sharp blows
occuring during transportation, storage or handling of the package.
Conventionally, to provide lightweight cushioning protection,
either a soft, flexible, relatively thick padding strip folded over
to cover the sides and top corners of the article or a rigid
protector made of a plurality of thicknesses of corrugated
paperboard is utilized to maintain the article in spaced relation
to the interior walls of the container.
However, many protectors which have been used do not permit the
vertical stacking of loaded containers, as such stacking would
result in damage to underlying containers and contents,
particularly with heavy, bulky goods. When containers are stacked
three to six levels high, the weight on the underlying containers
is often sufficient to bend and break the corners and to buckle the
walls which bear the major stacking load. This bending and breaking
is made worse by the employment of a fork lift or other mechanical
unit for handling the container with the result that the contents
of the container are often damaged. In highly finished, heavy
wooden furniture pieces or heavy consumer appliances, even minor
scratches are a source of customer and dealer dissatisfaction with
the manufacturer of the goods.
To overcome this problem, a vertical corner post protector having a
cross-section in the shape of the numeral 4 was developed, as shown
in U.S. Pat. No. 3,072,313. That corner post is designed to serve
the dual function of providing ample vertical stacking strength for
the container to prevent damage to the contents and cushioning the
contents against lateral external blows or shocks. Such corner
posts are preferably fabricated of corrugated paperboard, which is
readily commercially available and which can be easily and
inexpensively manufactured into the container-length corner
posts.
The corner post shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,072,313 has been found
effective and commercially successful in resisting vertical
compressive forces upon stacking of a number of containers.
However, that corner post may gradually give way to extreme or
repeated lateral forces applied to the container and to shifting
movement of the article within the container. The lateral applied
or shifting forces may crush the hypotenuse portion of the corner
post and not leave any cushioning protection for the edge and
corners of the article.
This difficulty is particularly aggravated when a squeeze-type
handling unit is employed to lift the package rather than a fork-or
blade-type lifting unit. If a squeeze-type unit is utilized, the
corner post must be able to resist the extreme lateral squeezing
force applied to the container, but must not be too rigid or the
corner post itself may cause damage to the article being protected.
The use of such squeeze-lift methods has been rapidly growing
because of savings in space otherwise needed to accommodate the
mechanical lifting fork or blade. Moreover, when using a
squeeze-lift method, a regular slotted style container, as opposed
to an interlocking flange cap and tube, may be employed. A slotted
style container usually requires less corrugated material and is
less expensive to fabricate.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an
improved lightweight corner post for cushioning and protecting the
corners and edges of a bulky, heavy article.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved corner
post which protects an article in a container against both vertical
and lateral compressive forces tending to buckle the walls of the
container and thereby damage the contained article.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved corner
post for cushioning and protecting a packaged, bulky article
against extreme or repeated lateral compressive forces as might be
produced by a squeeze-type lifting unit.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved
corner post for use in a container for a heavy, bulky article which
can be readily and inexpensively formed at the packaging
location.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent upon
consideration of the following detailed description and
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heavy, bulky article in a
container and protected by corner posts;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a section of a corner
post showing various of the details thereof;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a blank used to form the outer part
of the corner post shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along
the line 4--4 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating the corner post
after lateral compressive force has been applied;
FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are views similar to FIG. 4 illustrating
alternative embodiments of the corner post; and
FIGS. 6A, 7A and 8A are views similar to FIG. 5 showing,
respectively, the corner posts illustrated in FIGS. 6-8.
Very generally, and with reference to FIG. 1 of the drawing, there
is shown a package 10 including a heavy, bulky article, such as a
refrigerator-freezer 12. The package 10 includes a skid 14 to which
the article 12 is attached and a container 16 formed of corrugated
fiberboard or other suitable packaging material that has sufficient
size to enclose and protect the article 12. Along the entire length
of each vertically extending edge 18 of the article 12, a corner
post 20 is positioned to cushion and protect the edges of the
article. The corner post 20 perferably extends slightly beyond the
ends of the edges 18 and thereby also protects the upper and lower
corners 19 of the article.
Each corner post 20 has a cross-section generally in the shape of
the numeral 4 and spans the distance between a vertical edge 18 of
the article and an adjacent inner corner 21 of the container 16.
Each post 20 has a recess 22 that accepts and wraps around the edge
18 of the article and a vertex 23 which fits into the corresponding
inner corner 21 of the container 16. Upon the application of an
extreme or repeated lateral compressive force to the container
during handling or transport, the corner post 20 may be wedged into
the adjacent inner corner 21 of the container, but as a result of
its improved design, it continues to cushion the article. Although
four corner posts 20 are utilized in the package, they are
identical in cross sectional design and only one is described
herein.
FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 illustrate the features of the improved corner
post 20 for cushioning and protecting the edge 18 of the article
12. The corner post 20 has sufficient strength to provide
protection for the article against vertical and lateral compressive
forces, yet it is sufficiently laterally flexible to prevent damage
to the article from extreme or repeated lateral compressive forces.
The corner post 20 has an outer covering 24, which is preferably
formed of an integral piece of single wall, corrugated paperboard,
which is readily commercially available at low cost and which can
be easily and inexpensively fabricated to the desired form.
Corrugated paperboard provides high strength corner posts which
compare to wooden post constructions in column strength. Corrugated
paperboard may be shipped to a packaging site in the form of flat
sheets which can be fabricated as needed into the outer covering 24
having a cross-section in the shape of the number 4 and into
reinforcing panels which are also a part of the posts.
The elongated blank 25 from which the outer covering 24 of the
corner post 20 is formed is shown in FIG. 3. The blank 25 is
divided by a score line 27 defining the recess 22 and by additional
vertically extending score lines 29, 31 and 33 which complete the
definition of the FIG. 4 configuration. When the blank 25 is folded
about the score lines, there is formed respectively (from left to
right) an inner base panel 35, a step panel 37 (hinged to the inner
base panel and forming the recess 22 therewith), an hypotenuse
panel 39, a vertex panel 41 and an outer base panel 43. The blank
25 takes the shape of the numeral 4 in cross-section when it is
folded so the inner base panel 35 lies parallel to the outer base
panel 43.
In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the inner base panel
35 lies adjacent one upstanding side surface 45 of the article 12
and the step panel 37 extends transversely to the inner base panel
35 and lies adjacent the front or rear surface 47 of the article.
The inner base panel 35 and the step panel 37 define at their
intersection the recess 22 which accepts the edge 18 of the article
defined by the intersection of the surfaces 45 and 47. The
hypotenuse panel 39 extends from the front or rear surface 47 of
the article being protected to the adjacent inner corner 21 of the
container 16. The vertex panel 41 which connects the hypotenuse
panel 39 and the outer base panel 43, provides the corner post with
a flat vertex 23 which abuts one sidewall 48 of the container 16 at
the inner corner 21 thereof. The outer base panel 43 extends
substantially parallel to the inner base panel 35 and is adapted to
lie adjacent the inner surface of the other sidewall 49 of the
container 16 which meets at the corner. Thus, a numeral 4 shaped
corner post 20 is defined having an interior triangular-shaped
aperture 51.
In order to provide the corner post 20 with longitudinal strength,
so that a plurality of packages can be vertically stacked without
damage to the artices, a reinforcement 53 is located interiorly of
the outer covering 24. Preferably, the reinforcement 53 is formed
of an integral piece of double-wall corrugated paperboard folded
along a junction 59 into a shape that fits within the
triangle-shaped aperture. An integral, folded panel in which the
flutes run vertically provides good compression strength and thus
good resistance to vertical compressive loads. Alternatively, the
inner reinforcement 53 can be formed of a suitable plastic material
or of honeycomb material, made of plastic or metal, capable of
being folded in the same manner as corrugated paperboard and faced
with a material such as kraft paper, resin impregnated paper,
paperboard, plastic, or thin metal foil.
As shown in FIG. 2, this inner reinforcement 53 includes a first or
outer base reinforcing panel 61, which is fastened to the inwardly
directed face of the outer base panel 43, and a second or
hypotenuse reinforcing panel 63, which is positioned adjacent the
inwardly directed face of the hypotenuse panel 39. The junction 59
of the outer base reinforcing panel 61 and hypotenuse reinforcing
panel 63 lies interiorly of the vertex 23. The relatively flat
region of the vertex panel 41 accommodates the folded junction 59
between the outer base reinforcing panel 61 and the hypotenuse
reinforcing panel 63 and also inhibits the corner post from cutting
the container 16.
The outer base reinforcing panel 61 is adhesively secured along its
surface to the outer base panel 43 from the base of the FIG. 4 to a
point designated by the reference numeral 64. The point 64 is
preferably spaced a distance from the vertex 23 at least equal to
the width of the vertex panel 41. The hypotenuse reinforcing panel
63 is not adhesively secured to the hypotenuse panel 39. Of course
if the inner reinforcement 53 were completely laminated to the
outer covering 24, the post would have considerably more
compression strength. However, such a corner post 20 would be so
strong that it would not properly cushion the article upon
application of an excessive or repetitive compressive lateral
force. The inner reinforcement at the vertex 23 provides adequate
resistance to vertical compressive force as a result of the good
vertical compressive strength contributed by an integral, folded
panel.
To provide still further column strength for the corner post, the
inner reinforcement 53 includes a double-wall corrugated paperboard
third or spacer panel 65, which is located between the outer base
reinforcing panel 61 and the inner base panel 35. The spacer panel
65 is preferably adhesively secured to both the inner base panel 35
and to the outer base reinforcing panel 61 so that the corner post
20 is quite rigid in the vertical direction. The panel 65 may be
formed by slitting the panel from which the reinforcement is formed
and folding it at the slit, or it may be a separate piece that is
suitably attached to the panel 61.
It is preferred that the post be fabricated using an adhesive
although other fasteners might also be utilized. A conventional
water-based adhesive for the assembly of corrugated fiberboard,
such as sodium silicate, may be used. Organic synthetic resins,
such as polyvinyl alcohol adhesive, isocyanate adhesive, and
polyvinyl acetate adhesive, might also be used. The post could be
assembled with staples or a combination of adhesive and staples.
However, adhesive is preferably employed to unite the inner base
panel 35, the spacer panel 65, the outer base reinforcing panel 61,
and the outer base panel 43.
Preferably, the outer covering 24 of the corner post 20 is
fabricated from the integral blank 25 of corrugated paperboard the
flutes of which are disposed horizontally, which blank is suitably
scored to provide the elongated, vertically oriented panels 35, 37,
39, 41 and 43. The flutes of the inner reinforcement 53, i.e. the
outer base reinforcing panel 61, the hypotenuse reinforcing panel
63 and the spacer panel 65, are vertically disposed and provide the
primary vertical strength of the corner post 20. The combination of
the hypotenuse panel 39 wherein the flutes run horizontally and the
inner hypotenuse reinforcement where the flutes are vertical has
been found to excellently protect the article against compressive
forces.
The hypotenuse panel 39 is divided by a score line 71 extending
longitudinally thereof into two panel sections 73 and 75. The score
line 71 and the score lines 29, 31 and 33 are preferably disposed
on one face of the blank, that which becomes the interior of the
corner post, and the score line 27 at the recess appears on the
outer surface of the blank. However, the score line 71 may be
placed on either face of the blank 25 as folding will take place
along the line of weakness it provides. The hypotenuse panel 39 is
adapted to fold at the score line 71 upon the application of an
extreme or repeated lateral compressive force to the corner post 20
either by the shifting of the article 12 within the container 16 or
by the squeezing of the package 10 by handling apparatus. This
score line 71 permits the hypotenuse panel 39 to fold outward,
thereby permitting the article 12 to shift somewhat within the
container 16, but the article remains cushioned against the applied
lateral compressive force. If this score line 71 were not provided
in the corrugated hypotenuse panel 39, the corner post would have
more strength to resist lateral deformation. However, a corner post
which is so strong that it will not crush upon such application of
lateral force may itself damage the article.
At about the same time as the hypotenuse panel 39 begins to fold
outwardly at the score line 71, as a result of the application of
extreme or repeated compressive lateral force, the hypotenuse
reinforcing panel 63, which has less strength in the horizontal
direction because of its vertical flutes, first crushes at the
point where it abuts the step panel 37. The initial crushing of
hypotenuse reinforcing panel 63, as the compressive lateral force
is applied, assures that it reinforces the hypotenuse panel 39 so
that the folding at the score line 71 can proceed uniformly. As the
reinforcing panel 63 and the hypotenuse panel 39 are not laminated,
the panels separate as the lateral force is applied. Upon the
application of still greater force, the panel 63 eventually bends
outwardly in an area generally adjacent the score line 71 in the
panel 39 (as shown in FIG. 5). This bent panel 63 continues to
support the hypotenuse panel 39 and the step panel 37 and thereby
cushions the article 12 within the container 16. Because the
hypotenuse reinforcing panel 63 separates from the hypotenuse panel
39 and both panels bend in the direction shown, i.e., outward, the
aperture 51 in the post is maintained, thus indicating that the
corner post 20 is continuing to cushion the article by maintaining
spacing between the article and the walls of the container.
As shown in FIG. 1, four corner posts 20 are disposed within the
container 16 along with the article 12 to form the package 10. The
posts are located between each edge 18 of the article 12 and the
adjacent inner corner 21 of the container 16, with each hypotenuse
panel 39 extending between a front or rear surface 47 of the
refrigerator-freezer and the respective inner box corner 21 (FIG.
4). As the article 12 moves closer to one interior surface of the
container, either by shifting movement of the article within the
container or by application of a lateral compressive force against
the exterior of the container, the vertex 23 of the respective post
is wedged into the adjacent inner corner 21. Initially, the corner
post 20 resists the compressive force because of the inner
reinforcement 53, the shape of the post, and the horizontal flutes
of the outer covering 24. As the force reaches an excessive level,
or if the force is repeated sufficiently to cause fatigue, the
hypotenuse panel 39 begins to fold outwardly at the vertical score
line 71. The hypotenuse reinforcing panel 63 then receives a
greater portion of the compressive force, first crushing and then
folding outwardly. As the reinforcing panel folds, it separates
from the hypotenuse panel 39, but the reinforcing panel 63 remains
generally in position between the vertex 23 and the step panel 37,
as shown in FIG. 5. Although the edge of the reinforcing panel 63
is somewhat crushed, the aperture 51 remains, indicating that the
article 12 remains cushioned within the container 16. The
controlled yielding of the hypotenuse panel prevents total crushing
from occurring which might allow the article to slide past the
corner post and hit the container walls, where the article might be
damaged. Moreover, not only is the column strength of the corner
post 20 not impaired when the controlled yielding of the hypotenuse
panel 63 occurs but the presence of an additional bend in the
reinforcement may actually increase its strength.
Thus, it can be seen that the invention provides an improved
lightweight container which includes cushioning material for
protecting the corners and edges of an article. Furthermore, the
invention provides an improved corner post useful in packaging a
bulky and heavy article, the corner post having high columnar
strength, yet being capable of cushioning the article upon the
application of an extreme or repeated lateral compressive force to
the container. The containers can be stacked even though the
uppermost containers receive heavy articles which tend to crush the
lowermost containers. The articles will be effectively cushioned
against lateral compressive forces, such as those applied by
squeeze-lift handling units.
FIG. 6 shows, as an alternative embodiment, a corner post 20a in
which the apex of the FIG. 4 is exaggerated. The exaggeration is
accomplished by increasing the dimension of the panel 41a of the
outer wrap-around member. In this embodiment, instead of merely
folding the inner member at the apex as shown in FIG. 4, an
additional score line is used to provide a short fourth panel 62 in
the inner member 53a which is hinged to panels 61a and 63a at the
apex. Other than in the foregoing respect and in the placement of
the score line 71a on the outer surface of the outer member 24a,
the illustrated corner post 20a is substantially the same as that
shown in FIG. 4 and functions in substantially the same manner as
illustrated in FIG. 6A. The corner post 20a having such an
exaggerated point is considered to be particularly effective in
avoiding penetration or puncture through the sidewall 48 of the
container 16 that could conceivably occur as result of extremely
rough handling.
FIG. 7 shows a corner post 20b which is further exaggerated,
compared to that shown in FIG. 6, to such an extent that the outer
wrap-around member 24b actually forms a substantial rectangle. The
panel 41b is made longer than the panel 41a in FIG. 6, and the
panel 39b is slightly shorter to provide the rectangular
configuration. In this embodiment, the inner member 53b, which has
the vertically oriented flutes, remains substantially the same as
the member 53 shown in FIG. 4. The cushioning effect is similarly
created by providing the failure score line 71b in the panel 39b
which extends between the sidewall 48 of the container and the
parallel surface 47 of the article. As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the
horizontal corrugations in the fiberboard from which the outer
wrap-around member 24b is made retains sufficient resilience that,
even after controlled failure occurs at the score line 71b, the
post 20b supports and protects the article 12 packaged under all
normal handling encountered thereafter.
FIG. 8 discloses a corner post 20c which is generally similar to
the corner post 20b shown in FIG. 7 to the extent that the outer
member 24c is formed with a portion having a generally rectangular
configuration. However, in the corner post 20c, the direction of
the corrugations in the outer and inner members is reversed as
compared to that shown in FIG. 7. In the corner post 20c, the outer
member 24c is vertically fluted whereas the inner member 53c has
horizontal flutes. It is also noted that both the inner member 53c
and the outer member 24c are made from double wall corrugated, thus
inherently providing a thicker base and eliminating the employment
of an additional panel, such as the panel 65 shown in FIG. 4.
Although in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, the
outer material used was single wall corrugated, it should be
understood that other suitable materials can be substituted
therefor.
Inasmuch as, in the corner post 20c, the horizontally fluted member
is on the interior, the controlled failure score line 71c is
located centrally of this member on the diagonally extending panel
63c. Preferably, the failure score line 71c divides the panel 63c
in half; however, placement of the failure score line a distance
either side of the mid-point not greater than about 10 percent of
the transverse width of the panel 63c is considered acceptable. As
shown in FIG. 8A, when the force imposed on the package exceeds the
predetermined amount, bending occurs in the panel 63c at the
failure score line generally away from the article 12 being
protected, as hereinbefore generally described with regard to the
horizontally fluted outer member in respect of the corner post 20
shown in FIG. 5. In this case, it is likely that some crushing of
the vertically fluted outer member 24c will occur at the junction
between the panel 37c and the panel 39c, followed by a buckling of
the panel 39c at some central point, generally as illustrated. As
soon as the force which caused the controlled failure to occur is
removed, the inherent resiliency of the double wall, horizontally
fluted material causes it to try to regain its original flat
orientation and thus continues to provide support for the article
12 along that edge thereof.
Although several forms of the invention have been shown and
described, it should be apparent that various additional
modifications might be made therein without departing from the
scope of the invention.
Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the
following claims.
* * * * *