CORNER PROTECTOR
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.
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 INVENTIONA 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.
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:
A corner protector 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in
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.
A corner protector 210 according to a second embodiment is shown in
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
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.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 14, 2008
Publication Date: Sep 17, 2009
Inventor: Sean T. Ogburn (Hoschton, GA)
Application Number: 12/048,801
International Classification: B65D 81/05 (20060101); B65D 81/07 (20060101);