Abstract: A rigid packaging container having an integral locking assembly is a rigid U-board having a bottom wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall, the bottom wall, the first sidewall and the second sidewall forming a channel. The first and second sidewalls each have a cut therethrough, forming a first channel section and a second channel section. An integral tab in the first sidewall of each of the first channel section and the second channel section is configured to form an integral locking assembly which may be pushed inwardly or pulled outwardly to secure the first channel section at an angle relative to the second channel section.

Abstract: A rigid, shaped board structure is formed from a sheet of material having a length and width. The sheet has a first side and a second side. The sheet of material is folded in an accordion fold defining a plurality of flutes. The flutes have first and second legs opposing one another, defined by parallel material fold lines such that a width of the first legs is about equal to a width of the second legs. An adhesive is applied on at least one of each opposing first and second legs. The sheet of material with the adhesive thereon is compressed to fold along the fold lines to form a flat compressed board. The flat compressed board is folded along at least one board fold line parallel to the material fold lines to form the rigid, shaped board structure.

Abstract: A four-sided, clam-shell-like container is formed from a preformed, rigid U-shaped cross-section. The U-shaped member has a base wall and opposing side walls. The base and side walls and the intersection of the base and side walls are rigid. The base wail has a thickness having a slot is formed therein. The slot extends longitudinally along a length of the base wall and is formed in an inner surface thereof into the thickness of the base wall. The slot defines base wall sections adjacent and connected to one another by a portion of the thickness of the base wail. The base wall portions and the side walls adjacent thereto are foldable inward along the slot so as to form a four-sided, generally rectangular shaped cross-section container such that ends of the side walls are near one another and are foldable outward for stacking and storing the U-shaped members.

Abstract: A high density nesting packaging container has first and second preformed, rigid U-shaped members each having a U-shaped cross-section. The U-shaped members are configured to fit into one another to form a rectangular cross-section container. Each of the U-shaped members has a base wall and opposing side walls, the intersection of the base and side walls being rigid. The base wall has a thickness. A narrow slit is formed in the base wall, extending longitudinally along the base wall and formed from an inner surface of the wall into the thickness of the base wall. The base wall is foldable along the slit so as to form a generally W-configuration cross-section. The thus W-configuration, U-shaped members are nestable with each other. When the U-shaped member is unfolded to the U-shaped cross-section, the opposing surfaces formed by the slit abut one another to maintain the crate in the U-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: A high density nesting packaging element is a preformed, rigid U-shaped member. The U-shaped member has a base wall and upstanding opposing side walls, in which the intersection of the base and side walls is rigid. The base wall has a thickness and a narrow slit is formed in the base wall, extending longitudinally along the base wall. The slit is formed from an inner surface of the wall into the thickness of the base wall. The base wall is foldable along the slit so as to form a generally W-shaped configuration cross-section. When folded into the W-shaped configuration, the members are nestable with each other. When the member is unfolded to the U-shaped cross-section, the opposing surfaces formed by the slit abut one another to maintain the member in the U-shaped configuration.

Abstract: A packaging container for a load having a projection such as a nailing fin is made from two rigid U-boards. An inner U-board supports the weight of the window/door frame while preventing the nailing fin from having contact, directly or indirectly, with the ground or sides of the fin crate. The nailing fin provides one supporting wall for the inner U-board while a second, outer U-board provides a second supporting wall. Both walls prevent the inner U-board from spreading out or collapsing under the weight of the window/door. The inner U-board is formed as a continuous element or as discrete elements. The nailing fin is incorporated into the fin crate to form a support member and part of the packaging container.

Abstract: A packaging container has a heavy duty integrated handle. The container is formed from a rigid unit of generally U-shaped cross-section having a main body portion with a generally flat bottom wall and upstanding, opposing sidewalls, wherein the bottom wall is reinforced with reinforcing material. Reinforced hand openings are formed in the reinforced bottom wall, configured for a user to insert a hand for use as the handle for the packaging container.

Abstract: A single piece edge protector for curved and curvilinear-shaped objects includes a preformed, rigid, laminated U-board having a bottom wall, and a first sidewall, and a second sidewall which include preformed angled cuts. The preformed cuts are formed at about 15 degrees from a plane perpendicular to the bottom wall. Each sidewall of the edge protector is a mirror-image of the other such that a preformed cut on the first sidewall is directly across from a preformed cut on the second sidewall. A plurality of preformed cuts form both V-shaped openings and a plurality of trapezoid-like legs on the first and second sidewalls. Each leg may have a similar surface area or a different surface area as an adjacent leg along the length of the edge protector. The edge protector is configured to follow a curvilinear perimeter of about 135 degrees and may include an end cap closure.

Abstract: A high density nesting packaging element is a preformed, rigid U-shaped member. The U-shaped member has a base wall and upstanding opposing side walls, in which the intersection of the base and side walls is rigid. The base wall has a thickness and a narrow slit is formed in the base wall, extending longitudinally along the base wall. The slit is formed from an inner surface of the wall into the thickness of the base wall. The base wall is foldable along the slit so as to form a generally W-shaped configuration cross-section. When folded into the W-shaped configuration, the members are nestable with each other. When the member is unfolded to the U-shaped cross-section, the opposing surfaces formed by the slit abut one another to maintain the member in the U-shaped configuration.

Abstract: A four-sided, clam-shell-like container is formed from a preformed, rigid U-shaped cross-section. The U-shaped member has a base wall and opposing side walls. The base and side walls and the intersection of the base and side walls are rigid. The base wail has a thickness having a slot is formed therein. The slot extends longitudinally along a length of the base wall and is formed in an inner surface thereof into the thickness of the base wall. The slot defines base wall sections adjacent and connected to one another by a portion of the thickness of the base wail. The base wall portions and the side walls adjacent thereto are foldable inward along the slot so as to form a four-sided, generally rectangular shaped cross-section container such that ends of the side walls are near one another and are foldable outward for stacking and storing the U-shaped members.

Abstract: A rigid packaging container having an integral locking assembly is a rigid U-board having a bottom wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall, the bottom wall, the first sidewall and the second sidewall forming a channel. The first and second sidewalls each have a cut therethrough, forming a first channel section and a second channel section. An integral tab in the first sidewall of each of the first channel section and the second channel section is configured to form an integral locking assembly which may be pushed inwardly or pulled outwardly to secure the first channel section at an angle relative to the second channel section.

Abstract: A high density nesting packaging container has first and second preformed, rigid U-shaped members each having a U-shaped cross-section. The U-shaped members are configured to fit into one another to form a rectangular cross-section container. Each of the U-shaped members has a base wall and opposing side walls, the intersection of the base and side walls being rigid. The base wall has a thickness. A narrow slit is formed in the base wall, extending longitudinally along the base wall and formed from an inner surface of the wall into the thickness of the base wall. The base wall is foldable along the slit so as to form a generally W-configuration cross-section. The thus W-configuration, U-shaped members are nestable with each other. When the U-shaped member is unfolded to the U-shaped cross-section, the opposing surfaces formed by the slit abut one another to maintain the crate in the U-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: A packaging container for a load having a projection such as a nailing fin is made from two rigid U-boards. An inner U-board supports the weight of the window/door frame while preventing the nailing fin from having contact, directly or indirectly, with the ground or sides of the fin crate. The nailing fin provides one supporting wall for the inner U-board while a second, outer U-board provides a second supporting wall. Both walls prevent the inner U-board from spreading out or collapsing under the weight of the window/door. The inner U-board is formed as a continuous element or as discrete elements. The nailing fin is incorporated into the fin crate to form a support member and part of the packaging container.

Abstract: A packaging container has a heavy duty integrated handle. The container is formed from a rigid unit of generally U-shaped cross-section having a main body portion with a generally flat bottom wall and upstanding, opposing sidewalls, wherein the bottom wall is reinforced with reinforcing material. Reinforced hand openings are formed in the reinforced bottom wall, configured for a user to insert a hand for use as the handle for the packaging container.

Abstract: A packaging container with a reinforced bottom and corners is a lamination of a container material alternating with a reinforcing material that is shaped to form a rigid unit of generally U-shaped cross-section having a main body portion with a generally flat bottom wall and upstanding, opposing sidewalls. The bottom and corners are reinforced with the reinforcing material to withstand additional stresses associated with dropping, bumping, scratching or general handling of packaging containers.

Abstract: A cutting tool for strap includes a fixed element and a movable element pivotally operably connected to one another. The fixed element has a body, a grip extending from an end of the body and an anvil. The anvil has a cutting edge. A pivot region is defined between the cutting edge and the grip. The movable element has a body, an enclosed handle and a cutting head. The cutting head defines a cutting edge. A pivot region is defined between the cutting edge and the handle. The movable and fixed elements are operably connected at their respective pivot regions. A cutter guard having a flange is disposed to overlie a portion of the fixed element anvil to provide an opening between the flange and the anvil to place the strap during a cutting operation.

Abstract: A packaging container has an integral handle. The container is formed from a preformed, rigid unit of generally U-shaped cross-section having a main body portion with a generally flat bottom wall and upstanding, opposing sidewalls. The unit is foldable at at least two regions to form a base channel and opposing side channels of a protective package for an item. Hand openings are formed in the bottom wall of the opposing side channels configured for a user to insert a hand for use as the handle for the packaging container.

Abstract: A cutting tool for strap includes a fixed element and a movable element pivotally operably connected to one another. The fixed element has a body, a grip extending from an end of the body and an anvil. The anvil has a cutting edge. A pivot region is defined between the cutting edge and the grip. The movable element has a body, an enclosed handle and a cutting head. The cutting head defines a cutting edge. A pivot region is defined between the cutting edge and the handle. The movable and fixed elements are operably connected at their respective pivot regions. A cutter guard having a flange is disposed to overlie a portion of the fixed element anvil to provide an opening between the flange and the anvil to place the strap during a cutting operation.

Abstract: A clearing and reloading assembly is configured for use with a strapping machine of the type having an infeed arrangement at about a strap material inlet to the machine, a feed assembly and a chute, the strapping machine defining a strap material holding region between the infeed arrangement and the feed assembly. The strapping machine is configured to receive first and second courses of associated strap material, position, tension and seal the strap material around a load. The clearing and reloading assembly includes a body, a driven wheel and a bearing element opposite of the driven wheel. The bearing element and the driven wheel define a strap path therebetween. A strap cutter is disposed for movement into and out of the strap path. A first peripheral portion of the driven wheel is configured to define a gap between the first portion and the bearing element such that the strap material can slip therebetween.

Abstract: A clearing and reloading assembly is configured for use with a strapping machine of the type having an infeed arrangement at about a strap material inlet to the machine, a feed assembly and a chute, the strapping machine defining a strap material holding region between the infeed arrangement and the feed assembly. The strapping machine is configured to receive first and second courses of associated strap material, position, tension and seal the strap material around a load. The clearing and reloading assembly includes a body, a driven wheel and a bearing element opposite of the driven wheel. The bearing element and the driven wheel define a strap path therebetween. A strap cutter is disposed for movement into and out of the strap path. A first peripheral portion of the driven wheel is configured to define a gap between the first portion and the bearing element such that the strap material can slip therebetween.