Abstract: A packaging system for an appliance which includes a planar bottom board fastened to the appliance base and dimensioned and configured to provide a horizontal lip which projects outwardly beyond the appliance base perimeter, a container sleeve surrounding the appliance and snugly embracing the bottom board perimeter, and a tubular corner post sandwiched between each vertical corner edge of the appliance and the associated vertical internal corner of the sleeve and overlying and supported by the bottom board lip. To prevent a substantial reduction in the resistance of the corner post to compressive loading applied longitudinally thereto when containerized appliances are stacked, the corner post outer wall is provided, in at least the region adjacent the bottom board, with a vertically disposed indentation or bead.

Abstract: An elongated tube of convoluted fiber-containing sheet material, in which the fibers extend predominantly longitudinally and the convolutions are bonded together with a hardenable bonding material, which is flattened to provide at least a pair of opposed spaced parallel walls having longitudinally-extending grooves, beads, or indentations to provide enhanced support in terms of improved resistance to longitudinally-directed compressive loads, and enhanced cushioning in terms of improved resistance to transversely directed forces.