CORNER PROTECTOR

Abstract

A corner protector includes a plurality of portions to surround a corner of a product, such as a window or a door. A plurality of protrusions and recesses are located on a first and second portion of the corner protector to facilitate the stacking of the product for shipping or storage. The corner protector is secured to the product by a plurality of flexible tabs that extend from the first and second portion of the corner protector and engage a lip on the product.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to corner protectors and more particularly to a corner protector that slideably engages a product.

Corner protectors are attached to a variety of products during shipping and storage to protect the product from damage. Many corner protectors are made of cardboard and glued directly to the product. This prevents the corner protectors from being easily removed and reused on another product causing an increase in shipping material waste.

Other corner protectors may be reusable, but they do not aid in the stackability of the products and result in the product requiring more room for shipping.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A corner protector according to the present invention includes a plurality of portions that create a product receiving space. The product receiving space accepts the corner of a product, such as a door or window, to protect it from damage during shipping or storage.

The corner protector includes a plurality of protrusions and recesses that extend from a first and second portion. The plurality of protrusions on a first portion are accepted into a plurality of recesses on a second portion and vise versa when the product is in a stacked orientation.

The corner protector includes a plurality of flexible tabs that extend from an edge on the first and second portions to engage a lip on a product to secure the corner protector to the product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention can be understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an interior perspective view of a corner protector according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exterior perspective view of the corner protector.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the corner protectors located on a window.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the corner protectors located on a door.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the corner protectors located on the corners of a plurality of windows in a stacked orientation.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the corner protectors located on a window more clearly showing a plurality of flexible tabs.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the corner protectors located on the window in a vertically stacked orientation on a rack.

FIG. 8 is an interior perspective view of a corner protector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exterior perspective view of the corner protector of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the corner protector of FIG. 8 located on the window.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the corner protector of FIG. 8 located on the window in a stacked orientation.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of the corner protector of FIG. 8 more clearly showing a plurality of flexible tabs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A corner protector 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The corner protector 10 includes a planar, L-shaped first portion 12 and a planar, L-shaped second portion 14. The first portion 12 and the second portion 14 are spaced apart in a parallel orientation by means of a connecting portion 16. The connecting portion 16 is located perpendicular to the first portion 12 and the second portion 14. A product receiving space 22 is formed between the first portion 12 and the second portion 14 to receive a product. The first portion 12 and the second portion 14 have an interior edge 18. A plurality of flexible tabs 20 extend from the interior edge 18 of the first portion 12 and the second portion 14 into the product receiving space 22. The plurality of flexible tabs 20 are perpendicular to the first portion 12 and the second portion 14.

The first portion 12 and the second portion 14 include a plurality of protrusions 24 and a plurality of openings 26. The plurality of protrusions 24 on the first portion 12 protrude upward (i.e. away from the product-receiving space 22) and are vertically aligned with the plurality of openings 26 on the second portion 14. Likewise, the plurality of protrusions 24 on the second portion 142 protrude downward (i.e. away from the product-receiving space 22) and are vertically aligned with the plurality of openings 26 on the second portion 12. Of course, other protrusion accepting means could be used such as a plurality of depressions instead of the plurality of openings 26.

The first portion 12 and the second portion 14 include a plurality of ribs 28. The plurality of ribs 28 extend vertically from the first portion 12 and the second portion 14 into the product receiving space 22. The plurality of ribs 28 are oriented substantially diagonal to the edge 18 and parallel to one another. The plurality of ribs 28 extend less than half of the distance between the first portion 12 and the second portion 14. The plurality of ribs 28 have a tapered corner 30 to aid in guiding the product into the product receiving space 22.

FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the corner protector 10. A plurality of holes 32 are located adjacent the first portion 12, and the second portion 14 to aid in the manufacturability of the plurality of flexible tabs 20.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the corner protectors 10 located on a window 36. The corners of the window 36 are accepted into the product receiving spaces 22 of the corner protectors 10. A spacing 34 is maintained by the ribs 28 between a first window surface 38 and a second window surface 40 and the first portion 12 and the second portion 14, respectively.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the corner protectors 10 located on a door 46.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the corner protectors 10 located on the window 36 in a stacked orientation. The plurality of protrusions 24 and the plurality of openings 26 in the second portion 14 of the corner protector 10 mate with a plurality of openings 26′ and a plurality of protrusions 24′ in a similar corner protector 10′ located on a window 36′ to form a stacked orientation. The plurality of protrusions 24 are able to penetrate the plurality of openings 26′ due to a spacing 34′ created by a plurality of ribs 28′ located on the similar corner protector 10′. The corner protectors 10 protect the corners of the windows 36, 36′ from damage while increasing the stability of the stack of windows 36, 36′. The corner protectors 10 are reusuable and/or recyclable and/or can each be injection molded as a single piece from a thermoplastic, such as from recycled materials. As shown, the corner protector 10 can be used on windows, doors (FIG. 4) or other objects.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the corner protectors 10 located on the window 36 more clearly showing the plurality of flexible tabs 20. The window 36 includes a glass pane 48 inside a window frame. When a force is applied to the corner protector 10, the corner of the window 36 is accepted into the product receiving space 22 and the plurality of flexible tabs 20 flexibly engage the first window surface 38 and the second window surface 40. When a window edge 42 is adjacent to the connecting portion 16, an inner surface of the plurality of flexible tabs 20 engage a lip 44 of the window 36 to secure the corner protector 10 to the window 36.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the corner protectors 10 located on the window 36 in a vertically stacked orientation on a rack 56. The plurality of protrusions 24 and the plurality of openings 26 in the second portion 14 of the corner protector 10 mate with a plurality of openings 26′ and a plurality of protrusions 24′ in a similar corner protector 10′ located on a window 36′ to form a stacked orientation.

A corner protector 210 according to a second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8-12. The corner protector 210 is generally the same as the corner protector 10 described with respect to FIGS. 1-7 except as otherwise described below or shown in FIGS. 8-12. The corner protector 210 includes a generally planar, U-shaped first portion 212 and a generally planar, U-shaped second portion 214. The first portion 212 and the second portion 214 are attached by means of a bottom connecting portion 216 and by opposing side connecting portions 216a. The first portion 214, the second portion 216, the bottom connecting portion 216, and the opposing side connecting portions 216a form a product receiving opening 222. The product receiving opening 222 accepts at least two corner portions of the window 36 or the door 46.

A plurality of ribs 228 extend perpendicularly from the first portion 212, the second portion 214, and opposing side connecting portions 216a. The plurality of ribs 228 have a tapered corner 230 and are orientated parallel to one another and perpendicular to an edge 218. A plurality of spacer ribs 228a also protrude upwardly from the bottom connecting portion 216. The orientation of the plurality of ribs 228 allows the product to enter the product receiving space 222 parallel to the opposing side connecting portions 216a.

A plurality of protrusions 224 and a plurality of openings 226 are located near the opposing side connecting portions 216a and in a middle region located between the opposing side connecting portions 216a. At least one of the plurality of ribs 228 is located on each side of the plurality of protrusions 224 and the plurality of openings 226 towards the opposing side connecting portions 216a.

A plurality of holes 232 are located adjacent the first portion 212, and the second portion 214 to aid in the manufacturability of a plurality of flexible tabs 220. The plurality of flexible tabs 220 extend from an edge 218 and engage the window 36 as shown in FIGS. 10-12 (or the door 46, not shown) in a similar manner as described above for the plurality of flexible tabs 20. A plurality of the windows 36 with the corner protectors 210 can then be stacked as shown in FIG. 11, with the protrusions 224 of each corner protector 210 received in the opening 226 of adjacent corner protector 210 to improve the stability of the stack.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is not intended that this embodiment illustrates and describes all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A corner protector comprising:

a first portion and a second portion;

the first portion and the second portion are substantially parallel to each other and attached by a connecting portion substantially perpendicular to the first portion and the second portion; and

the first portion and the second portion include at least one protrusion and at least one recess.

2. The corner protector as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion on the first portion is accepted into a corresponding recess on the second portion of a corresponding corner protector to form a stacked orientation.

3. The corner protector as recited in claim 2, wherein the stacked orientation is either vertical or horizontal.

4. The corner protector as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion extends outwardly from the outer surface of the first portion and the second portion.

5. The corner protector as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one recess is an opening through the first portion and the second portion.

6. The corner protector as recited in claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion include at least one rib.

7. The corner protector as recited in claim 6, wherein the at least one rib extends less than half the distance between the first portion and the second portion.

8. The corner protector as recited in claim 6, wherein the at least one rib engages at least one surface of a product.

9. The corner protector as recited in claim 6, wherein the at least one rib is located parallel to the direction of attachment.

10. The corner protector as recited in claim 1, wherein the connecting portion includes at least one rib.

11. The corner protector as recited in claim 1, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the connecting portion define a product receiving space.

12. The corner protector as recited in claim 11, wherein the product receiving space accepts at least one corner of a product.

13. The corner protector as recited in claim 12, wherein the product is a window.

14. The corner protector as recited in claim 12, wherein the product is a door.

15. A corner protector assembly comprising:

a product including at least one corner portion;

a corner protector including a first portion and a second portion attached by a connecting portion;

the corner protector located on the at least one corner portion of the product; and

a plurality of tabs extending from an edge of the first portion and the second portion.

16. A corner protector as recited in claim 15, wherein an inner surface of the plurality of tabs engages a lip on the product.

17. A corner protector as recited in claim 15, wherein the plurality of tabs are flexible.

18. A method for attaching a corner protector to a product comprising:

selectively mating a product receiving space with at least one corner portion of a product.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein mating the corner protector and the product includes biasing a plurality of flexible tabs against at least one surface of the product.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein securing the corner protector to the product by engaging a surface of the flexible tabs with a lip on the product.